Blessed Hieromartyr Mykola Charnetsky and the Twenty-Four Martyrs with him; Blessed Hieromartyr Omelian Kovch; Our Venerable Father Samson, friend of travellers and the poor.

Troparia and Kontakia

Troparion, Tone 7: Blessed Ukrainian Martyrs,* you did not break the integrity of the Body of Christ,* in giving your bodies to tribulations:* you did not give way to the flattery of the enemy nor deny the Petrine unity.* Your earthly homeland Ukraine beseeches you* together with the whole Universal Church, singing with ancient song:* Holy Martyrs, you gloriously suffered and were crowned;* So pray to the Lord to have mercy on our souls.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

Kontakion, Tone 8: Invincible martyrs crowed with victory,* we in the Church you saved* sing songs of thanksgiving to you,* written on the scrolls of our hearts.* And you whose names are written in the Book of the living God,* protect our Church with Life,* that we may cry out: Rejoice you who belong to Heaven!

Now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Theotokion, Tone 8: Invincible Queen, in honour of victory,* we who are saved from evil, with songs of thanksgiving,* sing to you, O God-Bearer.* And whose power is unfailing,* protect us from all evils,* so that we may sing to you:* Rejoice, O Bride unwed!

Prokeimenon, Tone 4

To the saints who are in His land, the Lord has made wonderful all His desires in them.

verse: I foresaw the Lord in my sight, for He is at my right hand that I may not be shaken. (Psalm 15:3,8)

Epistle

Ephesians 6:10-17

Brothers and Sisters, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Alleluia, Tone 4

verse: The just cried out and the Lord heard them, and delivered them out of their afflictions.

verse: The afflictions of the just are many, and out of them all will the Lord deliver them. (Psalm 33:18,20)

Gospel

Luke 21:12-19

The Lord said to his disciples, “Beware of men, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. This will give you an opportunity to testify. So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance; for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your souls.”

Communion Hymn

Rejoice in the Lord, O you just;* praise befits the righteous.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 32:1)